Aquaculture America 2020

February 9 - 12, 2020

Honolulu, Hawaii

ARTICULATING NEEDS TO EMPOWER PRACTITIONER-LED MANAGEMENT OF LOKO I`A (HAWAIIAN FISHPOND) RESOURCES AND PRACTICES

Brenda Asuncion*, Rosie Alegado, Kevin Chang, Stanton Enomoto, Kiana Frank, Katy Hintzen, Wally Ito, Scott Laursen, Darren Lerner, Miwa Tamanaha, Maya Walton, Darcy Yogi, Sharon Ziegler-Chong
 
Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo
47-200 Waiheʻe Road
Kāneʻohe, HI 96744
brenda@kuahawaii.org
 

In response to practitioner desires to compile research needs for fishponds, we aimed to facilitate a year-long process to support practitioners to voice their needs, articulate their priorities, and create pathways for resilience in their places and practice. This process resulted in the first comprehensive compilation of the research ideas and needs within the community of fishpond managers, landowners, and stewardship organizations​ to inform adaptation of fishpond practices toward thei r resilience and sustainability in the face of a changing climate. The final assessment report is highly collaborative and co-produced, with initial inquiries directly from expert kiaʻi loko (fishpond stewards and practitioners) who are actively restoring  and managing loko iʻa (fishponds) in Hawaiʻi, and refined in partnership with researchers who are experts in their own fields of inquiry and scientific methods.

This effort seeks to inform the development of future research, monitoring, and planning for  loko iʻa throughout Hawaiʻi to endure dynamic and unpredictable environmental conditions. Our process and key outcomes will be presented to offer lessons learned about network-building, cultural frameworks that uphold an evolving traditional practice, and deep partnership between community and academic institutions. We hope these findings can inform decision-making and galvanize support for place-based aquaculture both locally and globally.